Power agitated metal parts cleaning machine



April 3, 1952 E. L. CHADWICK POWER AGITATED METAL PARTS CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1946 EARL LQCH g C K.

I By a flfm ATTORNE Y5 i atented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER AGITATED METAL PARTSI CLEANING MACHINE Earl L. Chadwick, Portland, Greg.- Application February 11. 1946, Serial No. 646,785

1 Claim. (01. 134 -141) The invention relates to a power agitated'metalparts cleaning machine.

In many types of shops, and particularly garages and maintenance locations, it is necessary quite frequently to wash small parts for the purpose of removing foreign matter. The present invention relates to a simple and economical device which can be provided conveniently for the mechanic or machinist so that the parts to be cleaned can be tossed into the machine as they are disassembled and will be cleaned and ready for reassembly in a short period of time.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a metal parts cleaning device wherein the parts are supported in a screen basket which can be rotated in the cleaning solvent so as to obtain suflicient agitation to insure the cleaning of all of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parts cleaning device wherein the parts can be readily inserted for cleaning and removed therefrom without the operator reaching into the cleaning solvent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a parts cleaning device wherein the parts are inserted in a basket dropped into a container, and then the basket agitated by a connection to the cover of the container.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a parts cleaning device wherein the cover carries a power mechanism for rotating a parts carrying basket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a power operated parts cleaning device wherein the power for operating the device is applied to the cover and where such power may be derived from fluid or liquid under pressure, or by the application of electric power.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device in operating condition with certain portions of the container broken away to illustrate the internal arrangement thereof;

Fig. 2 is a broken detail sectional view illustrating the manner of supporting the cage and parts carrying basket therein for rotation.

In Fig. 1 the container 2 maybe in the form of a can or tubular bucket of suitable size which embodies the base 3 and the side walls 4 as seen in Fig. 2. This container is provided with a bearing 5 which may have the anti-friction rollers or balls 6 thereon. This bearing is arranged to receive a cage 8 which is in turn arranged to removably receive the screen or basket portion 9. The cage is made up of the frame I0 having the strips l l of metal across the bottom and the side bars I2. The cross bars ll carry a plate l3 which is arranged to fit on the bearing support 5 so that the cage is rotatably mounted in position spaced above the base so as to allow for the accumulation of sludge.

The base bars I l and the side bars l2 are each provided with fins [B which project therefrom so as to effect agitation of a cleaning solution in the interior ll of the container 2 when the cage and basket 8 are rotated.

In order to provide for the smooth running of the cage in the container a plurality of roller bearings l8 extend outwardly from the side bars I2 to engage the inside of the wall 4 of the container.

The frame II] has a circular rim I9 at the top thereof so as to suitably place and support the various parts and to confine the screen basket 9.

This frame has a rod 20 projecting upwardly above the rim I9 and is arranged to receive the power arm 22. This power arm is supported on a shaft or spindle 23 mounted in the cover 24 which is arranged to be clamped at 25 on the top of the container. A handle 26 is arranged to lift the cover.

The power arm 22 is arranged to rotate inside of the container and when the opening 21 thereof is passed over the upper end of the rod 20 the cage will be caused to rotate with the arm.

In order to apply power to rotate the arm 22, a housing 30 is shown as affixed on top of the cover 24. The spindle 23 may have an impeller wheel 32 afiixed thereto so that when fluid or liquid is applied through the conduit 33 to the housing 30, that the impeller wheel will be caused to rotate and in this manner turn the power arm 22.

It seems obvious that a small electric motor could be provided instead of the air or hydraulic motor 30 which has been shown.

The principal object is to effect rotation of the power arm and the cage. In actual operation the cover 24 will be removed from the device and the cage may remain in the cleaning solution or solvent which is in the container. The mechanic may toss the parts into the screen until he desires to agitate them whereupon he places the screen basket in the cage, arranges the cover in position and turns on the power.

When the cleaning operation is completed the cover can be removed, and this, of course, re-

moves the power arm leaving the basket 9 free to be lifted out of the cleaning solution so as to retrieve the parts which have been cleaned. Of course, the basket can be removed from the container and the parts placed therein so that the basket can then be placed in the cleaning solution in the container.

The invention claimed is:

A parts cleaning device comprising a cleaning fluid container, a bearing in the base of said container, a cylindrical cage rotatably mounted on said bearing, vertically circumferentially spaced bars as part of said cage, lateral upper rollers on said cage to guide said cage by rotating against the inner wall of the container, a cover to fit upon and close said container, a prime mover mounted on said cover, a drive arm rotatably carried by said cover and connected to said mover, a connection on said cage comprising an end of one of said bars, an opening in said arm so that said end may receive said arm, to rotate said cage,

said cover and arm being removable to open said cage, and said cage being removable from said bearing and container.

EARL L. CHADWICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,568 Kellum Aug. 16, 1904 1,040,021 Sanborn et al. Oct. 1, 1912 1,049,896 Miller Jan. '7, 1913 1,444,902 Callahan Feb. 13, 1923 1,559,346 Moore Oct. 2'7, 1925 1,741,329 Montgomery Dec. 31, 1929 2,150,560 Ozer Mar. 14, 1939 2,151,437 Ohme Mar. 21, 1939 2,376,627 Seiple May 22, 1945 

